Florida Gators pre-practice notes: LT Xavier Nixon looking good

Prior to hitting the practice field today, Florida coach Urban Meyer did his weekly SEC teleconference and a handful of players and assistant coaches met the media in the visitors’ locker room at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The Gators are preparing for Saturday’s game against South Florida. Florida is a 16.5-point favorite despite an ugly opening game win that dropped the Gators in both the Associate Press and coaches’ polls.

Here are some updates:

— Meyer said LT Xavier Nixon (arthroscopic surgery on right knee) was not full speed in Tuesday’s practice, but did some encouraging things.

— Meyer also said back-up C Sam Robey has had some injuries in the pre-season but was full-go Tuesday.

— The update on LT Matt Patchan‘s broken wrist is that there is no update. Meyer has to timetable for his return.

— TE Omarius Hines said WR Frankie Hammond, who was suspended for Game 1, is part of the game plan this week and has been lining up at slot and wide receiver.

— DL coach Dan McCarney said DE Ronald Powell and DT Sharrif Floyd were his top freshmen last week. Floyd subbed in for DT Jaye Howard and McCarney did not see much of a dropoff, if any.

— McCarney also said DE Justin Trattou played a unit-high 49 plays against Miami (Ohio) and DE Duke Lemmens played 47. McCarney would like to reduce both of those totals, but isn’t sure if he’ll be able to do it this week.

— CB Janoris Jenkins said the secondary, which had four interceptions in Week 1, should be even faster this week with FS Will Hill back. Hill was suspended last week.